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Getting into College:
» Making Your Final Choice
Decision-Making Guide
You got "fat envelopes" -- now what?
Congratulations, you got in! Of course, if you've been accepted by more than one college, you have to choose. Here are some tips for doing just that.
- Flash back to your college search preferences
See how well each college matches them. Have your preferences changed?
- Prioritize what factors are most important to you
Is it more important to you to attend a college with a good English department or one that has fraternities? Do some soul-searching to determine what you really want in a college. Rank these characteristics in order of importance.
- Visit campuses, for the first time or again
Visiting a college's campus can help you see if you "click" with a school. Ask yourself, "Will I be happy on this campus? Can I really picture myself here?" Get a good feel for the school by talking to students, sitting in on a class, and eating in the cafeteria.
- Compare our financial aid award packages
If you receive financial aid award packages from colleges, compare them to see how each offer will affect your bank account while you're in school and after you graduate.
- Decide and reply
Once you've made a decision, send in your acceptance letter. Don't forget to inform all of the schools that offered you admission of your final choice. You're holding onto someone else's spot. A simple letter thanking them for offering you a place will do.
Just think, now you're in the driver's seat. Before, you were evaluated, through things like your applications, essays, and interviews. Now the tables are turned. You do the choosing. All your hard work paid off.
Remember, too, that there shouldn't be pressure to find the "perfect" college. Any number of schools can be good fits and make you happy.
Waitlisted: Now What?
Boost Your Chances of Getting In
Schools may put you on a waitlist if you meet the admission requirements, but they've already accepted the maximum number of applicants. You'll be offered a place only if space becomes available.
- Take control
It's not just a passive waiting game. There are things you can do to boost your chances of being accepted.
- Get a better sense of your chances of admission
Contact the admission office to find out if it ranks waitlisted students or if it has a priority list.
Most admission officers are willing to tell you your status.
- Write a letter to the admission office
Offer achievements that you may not have mentioned in your application or send new supplemental information. For example, maybe a terrific recommendation just came in. Emphasize your strong desire to attend the college and make a case for why you're a good fit.
- Study hard
This is no time to slack off. If you're waitlisted, you may be reevaluated based on your third- and fourth-quarter grades.
- Stay involved
Show admission officers you're committed to sports, clubs, and other activities.
- Request another (or a first) interview
An interview can give you a personal contact -- someone who can check on the status of your application.
- Realize that you've already achieved something
You were waitlisted, not turned away. Many students were not as successful.
- Reconsider the colleges that accepted you
If you'll be just as happy at one of your second choices, send in that deposit and plan to attend there. You'll be surprised how much better you feel after the decision has been made.
Remember, there's no one perfect college. Any number of schools can be good fits and make you happy. Plus, you may not even realize how wonderful the college, curriculum, and your fellow classmates are until you're there -- wherever "there" is.
Rejected: Now What?
It's Not Over Until It's Over
"We're sorry, but we won't be able to offer you a place in our first-year class. We had many qualified applicants this year...."
This is not how you wanted your college letter to read, but there it is. Don't panic. You still have lots of options, even if you didn't get a single fat envelope.
- Talk to your guidance counselor
He or she has been through this before with other students and knows what to do.
- Apply to schools whose deadlines haven't passed yet
Many colleges have late admission policies or rolling admission. Talk to your counselor to help you find schools with later deadlines.
- Apply to the same schools again
Some schools will reconsider your application if you take the ACT/SAT® again and improve your scores or if your grades shot up dramatically at the end of your senior year. Contact the admission office.
- Ask for an explanation
Was it your high school transcript? Your essay?
- Consider transferring to the college
If you spend a year at another school, you can prove to college admission officers that you're motivated and ready for college-level work. Consider community colleges, too.
Can I appeal my rejection?
You can, but most students don't win. Contact the admission office for details on their appeal process. Some schools will allow you to provide new academic information that could improve your chances of getting in, such as updated grades. You may also be able to request a spot on the college's waiting list.
The upside
There's an upside? Yes. Sometimes it actually helps to have a decision made for you. Maybe you had several colleges on your wish list and wouldn't have had an easy time choosing just one. Plus, if you hadn't been turned down by at least one college, maybe you'd always wonder if you should have set your sights higher.
Remember, there's no one perfect college. Any number of schools can be good fits and make you happy. Plus, you may not even realize how wonderful the college, curriculum, and your fellow classmates are until you're there -- wherever "there" is.
Getting into College
Deciding Where to Apply
Creating a Powerful Application
Letters of Recommendation/Essays
Acing Your College Interview
» Making Your Final Choice
The White House Initiative gratefully acknowledges collegeboard.com for providing the content found on this page.
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